SE57 Trip 11th June

Eleven of us headed for SE57 in the northwest of the recording area, being joined there by Georg (a friend of Paz Fletcher) who is writing an article about German and British birding. Our first stop was out of area at Sutton Bank to try for the Turtle Doves there, sadly without success, though the family of Siskin visiting the feeders were enjoyed. On then to Wass, where Garden Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher were the best birds followed by a stop at Newburgh Priory lake which yielded little apart from a family of Mute Swans and six Shelduck. We then did a walk through woodland (more common birds seen and heard) to the source of the Foss at Pond Head, Oulston Reservoir – not much there either but a family of Mute Swans with ten young was notable. We spent the whole afternoon at Yearsley – not a Redstart in sight though – however we had very good views of at least seven Tree Pipits – definitely the birds of the day. A very quiet day’s birding and rather small total of species seen and heard.

Many thanks to Peter for leading the trip and showing some of us areas we had not visited before.